A competitive rematch is only possible this season through the medium of two cup competitions, both of which have already seen the teams drawn apart in the first rounds.

Certainly the conditions and atmosphere were convivial enough, but you would have been forgiven for mistaking this for a cup tie as both sides went at each other full-pelt.

An opening assault on the home goal by Vale lasted a full quarter of an hour, but Peebles visibly gained confidence from standing firm in the face of it and began to make forays upfield to ask some questions of the Vale rearguard.

Vale had a very reasonable shout for a penalty as Dale Richardson hauled down John Ferguson in the area and Greig Tulloch had the best chance of the first half when he pulled a shot wide after getting in behind the Rovers defence.

After the turnaround, some defensive lapses caused Vale to present the home side with a couple of chances before they took full advantage as a lack of communication between Jack Blaikie and sub goalkeeper Ross McMullen gifted the ball to striker Flockhart, who rounded the keeper and rolled the ball over the line.

As the game wore on, chance after chance went begging for Vale.

Ross Brady tested Peebles keeper Chris Malcolm with a free kick before blazing a shot over from a good position. Captain Josh Morris broke through, but couldn’t find the unmarked Bradley Rixon with a lay-off.

Rixon then neatly side-stepped a couple of challenges on the edge of the area before letting fly, but again Malcolm was equal to it.

And as a trio of chances flew wide or over as two corners and a cross found Rixon at the back post, it became apparent that a goal was just not going to come for Vale.

As it was, Rovers almost doubled their lead in the final minute as a Ger Rossi shot was only prevented from crossing the line by a fortunately placed figure of defender James Elliot on the line.

Peebles Rovers: D. Walker, J. Flockhart, L. Zavaroni, J. Young, D. Richardson, S. Conaghan, S. Meikle, C. Flockhart, S. Sutherland, J. Hall, J. Finnie. Subs: G. Rossi, C. Taylor, D. McAleavy, C. Malcolm.

Vale of Leithen: M. Wilson, R. Sclater, J. Gill, J. Elliot, J. Blaikie, C. Anderson, R. Brady, K. O’Brien, G. Tulloch, J. Morris, J. Ferguson. Subs: B. Rixon, E. Saunderson, S. Lynch, R. McMullen.